Todd McFarlane’s Original 1977 Spawn Finally Hits Comics in SPAWN ’77 And Fam, This Is History With Chains On

Todd McFarlane Goes Back to the Beginning with SPAWN ’77, Bringing His Original 1977 Hellspawn Design to Comics for the First Time

Before the chains, before the cape became one of the most recognizable silhouettes in comics, before Spawn #1 hit shelves in 1992 and kicked the industry doors open like it owed Todd McFarlane money, there was a teenage kid with a wild imagination and a character design born in 1977.

Now, nearly fifty years later, that original vision is finally stepping out of the sketchbook and onto the comic book page.

Tempe, Arizona Todd McFarlane is bringing his earliest Spawn concept to life in SPAWN ’77, a new three-issue Spawn Universe mini-series co-written by McFarlane and Mark Spears, with Spears also delivering fully painted interior artwork in his Spawn Universe interior debut. And yeah, mi gente, that means we are getting a brand-new Spawn story built around the design McFarlane created back when he was just sixteen years old. Sixteen! Most of us at that age were trying to survive algebra and bad haircuts. Todd was out here planting the seeds for a comic book empire.

SPAWN ’77 takes its name from the year McFarlane first created the original Spawn design while he was still in high school. The series marks the first official comic book appearance of that early version, giving fans a rare look at the DNA of one of comics’ most iconic creations before it became the record-breaking franchise we know today.

But don’t get it twisted this is not just some nostalgia flex wrapped in collector bait. Developed by McFarlane and Spears, SPAWN ’77 introduces a completely new character and story rooted in the mythology of Hellspawns. The series dives into the danger of knowing too much, which already sounds like the kind of “you should’ve minded your business” horror energy that fits perfectly inside the Spawn Universe. Because in Spawn’s world, curiosity doesn’t kill the cat it drags the whole block into Hell.

The debut issue is coming loaded with covers from McFarlane, Spears, and Emma Ríos, including several based on McFarlane’s original 1977 design. Fans can expect a newly redrawn and recolored version of the original artwork by McFarlane, an incentive variant featuring the actual original 1977 piece, and a retro logo incentive cover that is absolutely going to have collectors acting like rent is optional. On top of that, there will be collector editions including a foil variant signed by McFarlane and a double-signed foil edition signed by both McFarlane and Spears.

The interior art is also bringing something different to the table. Mark Spears, already one of the hottest cover artists in the game, is handling the fully painted interiors, bringing his horror-heavy, cinematic eye into the Spawn Universe in a way fans have not really seen before. This is the kind of move that says, “Yeah, we could play it safe… but nah, let’s cook.”

“Going back to my roots of when I first developed SPAWN as a high school kid, when I was just beginning to feel deeply passionate about collecting comics, and being able to use some of those ideas now 50 years later is really a personal treat for me,” said McFarlane.

“To be able to do this mini-series alongside the super-talented Mark Spears will only make my enjoyment that much more special. Mark has been on the top of many fans’ wish lists to see more of his artwork, and we are all excited to show the readers what we have been looking at, from Mark, this past year. I promise you he will not disappoint anyone who is a fan of quality, sophisticated artwork.”

Spears, known for his acclaimed horror work and sought-after cover art, steps into a bigger role here as both co-writer and interior artist. Working side by side with McFarlane, Spears is helping shape a new story while also bringing his own interpretation to the earliest Spawn design. That’s not just a gig, fam. That’s a full-circle comic book moment with the emotional damage included for free.

“Getting to work with Todd McFarlane is the main reason I wanted to work in comics,” said Spears. “I read every book, watched every video, and studied every panel he created. He inspired me to become both a writer and an artist, and with Spawn ‘77, everything feels like it has come full circle.”

“Creating new characters within the Spawn Universe is something I’ve dreamed about ever since I picked up Spawn #1off the rack at my local comic book store. I can’t wait for readers to see what we have in store.”

For longtime Spawn fans, SPAWN ’77 is more than another mini-series. It is a look at the blueprint before the building became legendary. It is Todd McFarlane opening the vault, pulling out the teenage spark that started it all, and handing it to Mark Spears with a paintbrush dipped in nightmare fuel.

That is how you honor the past without getting stuck in it.

SPAWN ’77 is bringing the original Hellspawn energy back to the page, and if this thing hits the way it sounds like it will, collectors, horror fans, and Spawn loyalists better be ready.

Because sometimes the scariest thing in comics is not what comes next.

It is what was waiting at the beginning the whole damn time.

SPAWN ‘77 #1 arrives in comic shops in September 2026. The oversized 64-page debut issue will be available for $6.99. Additional details, including final order cutoff information and additional cover reveals will be announced in the coming months.

• Cover A by Mark Spears
• Cover B by Mark Spears and Todd McFarlane
• Cover C original 1977 update variant by Todd McFarlane
• Cover D by Emma Ríos
• Cover E Blank Sketch
• Cover F 1:25 copy incentive retro logo variant by Todd McFarlane
• Cover G 1:50 copy incentive variant by Todd McFarlane
• Cover H 1:100 copy incentive original 1977 variant by Todd McFarlane
• Cover I 1:250 copy incentive foil variant by Todd McFarlane, with McFarlane signature
• Cover J 1:500 copy incentive foil variant by Mark Spears and Todd McFarlane, with Spears and McFarlane signature

Spawn 77 #1 will also be available across digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

Follow Todd McFarlane:  Instagram // X // Facebook and stay tuned for more updates and announcements from the Spawn Universe.

ABOUT TODD MCFARLANE
Todd McFarlane is an Emmy and Grammy Award winning Director/Producer and the CEO of McFarlane Toys, McFarlane Films, and President of Image Comics. Best known for his work as the artist on THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, where he co- created Marvel’s top villain, VENOM. McFarlane went on to create his own title, SPAWN. Todd McFarlane’s SPAWN is one of the world’s best-selling comic books. SPAWN’s 1992 debut sold 1.7 million copies. McFarlane made history with SPAWN #300 and record-breaking SPAWN #301, earning the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for “Longest-running Creator-owned Superhero Comic Book Series.” In 2024, Todd McFarlane celebrated another milestone with Spawn issue #350. SPAWN became an Emmy Award-winning animated series on HBO, and live-action feature film, grossing $100+ million.

Spawn and all related characters and elements © & ™

Author Profile

Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!

Latest entries

• MusicJuly 31, 2026Digital Royalty Distribution Helps Independent Music Creators Find the Money Their Catalogs Are Already Earning
• Comic Book NewsJuly 31, 2026Vault’s Vampire: The Masquerade Sinks Its Teeth Back Into Print With Blood-Soaked Compact Edition
• Comic ReviewsJuly 31, 2026THE SMART DIVISION #1 Review: The Perfect Murder Just Got an AI Upgrade
• Comic Book NewsJuly 31, 2026The X Art Show Brings 60 Years of Mutant History, X-Men Creators and Live Fan Events to Los Angeles